MEANINGLESS WITHOUT LOVE
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11 (King James Version)
Next month, we will celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Just as they gave gifts to the baby Jesus we also give gifts to our families and to our loved ones. However, unless the gifts come from our hearts and not because we feel obligated to give them, the gifts are meaningless.
There are people who don’t really like the people they give gifts to yet they feel that they have to give gifts to them. Those gifts are meaningless because love is not the reason they are giving them. Someone said “He is my cousin so I have to give him a gift but I don’t like him”.
How it must hurt Jesus when we give gifts because we feel obligated to give them instead of giving from our hearts. The greatest gift we can give our families and friends is the unconditional love of Jesus. Our precious Saviour loves us unconditionally so we should love others unconditionally.
I heard someone say four years ago “I spent so much money on gifts this year, money that I couldn’t afford to spend; it will probably take until next Christmas to pay off my credit card bill”. We have left the real meaning of Christmas which is love.
I know a family who gives something they already have to each other or they make something for each other. Those gifts come from the depths of their hearts. May God help us this Christmas to give gifts because we love each other.
Joanne Lowe
joannelowe8@cox.net
www.joanne-ourprecioussaviour.blogspot.com
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